elderberry extract, anyone take this?

any experience with this? I'm pregnant and I keep getting sick, colds, sore throat etc. It was recommended to me as an anti-viral and she said it was also a good idea to give to my kid during flu season.

Yes, I take it when I have lung/chest problems. I took it a handful of times this fall when I had post nasal drip from a cold. I gave it to hubby for his bronchitis and it really shortened the duration.

My great-grandmother swore by it and it does work wonders. We even made our own a couple years ago we like it so much.

My dc had a horrible yr last yr w/ illnesses (dd got H1N1 - ack!) so I was considering it. I've heard some scary things about it with H1N1 tho. I think I'll def use it as a supplement w/ them but stop if they sick just in case. What does everyone else think?

I've read some articles saying that elderberry syrup increases something call cytokines in your immune system which is what helps the body fight infections better. Supposedly being sick w/ h1n1 raised some peoples cytokines so much it became deadly...therefore the deaths in seemingly healthy people w/ h1n1. Some articles said that if taken w/ h1n1 elderberry syrup can make it all worse. I only started reading about it so I don't have every bit of info but it made me nervous b/c my dd was was of those dc who got better then suddenly got sick again. Thankfully it wasn't worse than the initial infection so I didn't panic.

I like the idea of giving them something to help boost their immune systems but the whole h1n1 interaction thing is something that would make me paranoid...and I don't get paranoid often. That's just my comfort zone. I didn't know if anyone else had any other info on the subject.

I wouldn't give a baby echinacea or any herbal supplements because they oftentimes contain alcohol or other preservatives. In the case of elderberry syrup theres a ton of sugar. Plus I'd like to keep his gut as clean/pure as possible. If you are nursing you should the supplement to pass on to LO. Its best to do this all under the supervision of a reputable herbal practitioner obviously. We do give LO vitD and probiotics though.

Elderberries are safe for children but the leaves and wood of elder trees are NOT.

First of all, the threat of death from H1N1 is pretty small, less than that of the regular flu. Elderberries have been clinically proven to lessen the severity of the flu by 3-4 days and boost the immune system to prevent you from every getting sick from the flu in the first place. I think the benefits out weight the risks.

We take elderberry syrup when not feeling well and once a day, alternating one week on and one week off during flu season.

Thanks everyone. I got that same supplement for my almost 3 year old that has propolis and echinacea with the elderberry, but it's all in a sugar syrup, no alcohol. I guess the whole point of taking it, is so you don't get sick, but it's an interesting point you bring up about the H1N1, whether or not to continue it when sick. I'll have to research that.

We just started using it too (hadn't heard of it before this year) and so far so good! I gave some to my neighbor with a bad cold and that combined with vit D3, some homeopathic meds, and zinc lozenges, she was all better within 1 1/2 days (she was at the start of a cold so it would have typically lasted quite a bit longer than that). We will be using it at the first sign of a cold.

I made my own elderberry syrup so I know exactly what is in it...and I didn't put any echinacea in it. Just the berries...some honey...I steeped some ginger and cinnimon, and cloves in it. Those are all safe for my 2.5 year old.